Device for simultaneously spinning and twisting artificial silk threads



July 4, 1939. K. BERNDT 2,164,375

DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SPINNING AND TWISTING ARTIFICIAL SILK THREADSFiled May 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4, 1939. I K. BERND'I DEVICEFOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SPINNING AND TWISTING ARTIFICIAL SILK THREADS FiledMay 20 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFlCE THREADS Karl Berndt, Tilsit-on-the-Memel, Germany Application May20, 1937, Serial No. 143,672 In Germany May 23, 1936 7 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for simultaneously spinning and twistingartificial silk threads in which the threads issuing from the spinnerhead pass through a revolving container filled with coagulating solutionand then into a stationary container serving to supply the coagulatingsolution in such a manner that the threads traverse a liquid columnwhich rotates in the neighborhood of the spinner head and does notpractically rotate at the point at which the threads leave thestationary container. Spinning devices of this kind are described in mycopending applications, Serial No. 70,044, filed March 21, 1936, andSerial No. 143,673, filed May According to the present invention thestationary container of the spinning device has a stationary sleevewhich projects into the revolving container and is provided at the lowerend with a flange whose outer diameter is greater than the innerdiameter of the opening of the potlike revolving container.

According to another feature of the invention, two cylindrical conduitsare arranged concentrically within the above-mentioned sleeve. The innerconduit forms a passage through which thethread enters from therevolving container into the stationary container and coagulating liquidpasses in the opposite direction. The outer conduit constitutes anadditional supply tube through which also coagulating solution passesfrom the stationary container into the revolving container. Thisconcentric supply tube is so designed as to prevent the coagulatingsolution from being rotated before entering the revolving container. Theinner conduit may be designed according to the invention so as to rotatetogether with the revolving container. In this case the arrangement maybe so designed that three concentric tubes establish the connectionbetween the stationary container and the revolving container, of whichthe two inner tubes extend preferably close to the level of thecoagulating liquid within the stationary container.

The advantages of the invention will appear upon reference to thefollowing description of embodiments illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which I Fig. 1 represents an elevation, partly in section,of a spinning device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of the tubes entering the stationary container.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a 55 tube for guiding thethread which may be employed in connection with the arrangement shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the device in the position in which the spinning isstarted.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 12 denotes the stationarycontainer. It is connected through a hose 4| with a supply tank 42 whichmay, if desired, be raised or lowered. However, tank 42 is, as a rule,maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1 in which upon raising thecontainer I2 the coagulating liquid flows from container l2 back intothe supply tank 42.

The revolving pot-like container of the spinning device consists of twoparts. The upper part I is detachably secured to the bottom part 30 bymeans of a bayonet locking consisting of a flange 3! of the upper part Iand of lugs 32 arranged on the bottom part 30. Inside the bottom part 30of the revolving container is arranged a spinner head 33 having apluralityof perforations. The head 33 is placed on a spindle 34 of adriving motor 35. Motor 35 is mounted to the frame 39 of the spinningmachine. The spindle 34 consists of a tube for supplying the viscousmaterial to the head 33. The viscous material is supplied with the aidof a stationary tube 36, for instance of rubber, which has a conical endengaging in a conical bore of the revolving spindle 34. The tube 36 isconnected to the motor 35 by a holder 3?, preferably in such a manner asto enable an adjustment of the tube 36. Connected to the tube 36 is ahose 38 for supplying the viscous material.

The numeral 2 denotes a sleeve which is secured to the bottom of thestationary container l2 by means of a nut 18. The sleeve 2 has a flange3 at its lower end. The outer diameter of this flange is greater thanthe upper opening 4 of the revolving container I. On the sleeve 2 isrotatably mounted a disc 5 which covers the opening of the revolvingcontainer I. Within the sleeve 2 extends a tube 6 which is held inposition by radially protruding lugs [3, I4, l5 of sleeve 2 (Fig. 2).Between these lugs are openings 1 for the passage of the coagulatingsolution from the stationary tank l2 into the revolving container. Thelugs I 3, l4 and I5 prevent the solution passing through openings 1 fromrotating about the axis of the spinning device. The coagulatingsolution, therefore, flows from the stationary into the revolvingcontainer in a direction parallel to the axis of the spinning device.

Within the stationary tube 6 extends another tube 8 (Figs. 1 and 3)which rotates with the revolving container l. The tube 8 is providedwith sliding surfaces [6 and I! at the periphery thereof and is held bya ring I8 which carries two plate or leaf springs I9 and 20. Thesesprings engage in an annular groove arranged in the upper part I of therevolving container, and exert such a pressure against the wall of partI as to cause by friction a rotation of the tube: 8 when the container Irevolves. If this friction does not suflice, a stop (not shown) arrangedin the annular groove 2I forcibly causes the tube 8 to rotate. Asubstantial part of the coagulating solution flows from container I2through the openings 1 while being prevented by lugs I3, I4 and 15 fromtransferring the rotation of the solution in the revolvable containerinto the stationary container. The top opening of the revolvingcontainer and the cover plate 5 are designed to leave intersticesthrough which the superfluous coagulating solution leaves the revolvingcontainer in the direction indicated by the arrow 24.

The operation of the device is as follows:-

During the spinning process the viscous material issues from theopenings of the spinner head 33. It is solidified and twisted withincontainer 30, I in a liquid column which rotates at the same speed asthe spinner head. Consequently, the mechanical strain of the threads,which are still sensitive when issuing from the head, is extremelysmall. The threads then pass from the revolving portion of the liquidcolumn into a non-revolving portion inside the stationary container andthence over a roller to a reel (both not shown) on which the product iswound. During this operation the interior of the revolving container iscompletely filled with coagulating solution.

The non-revolving portion of the liquid in the stationary container I2acts in such a manner as to brake the twist of the thread passingtherethrough. It may be advantageous to neutralize in part this brakingeffect which causes the twist point to be displaced in the directiontowards the spinner head. This may be accomplished according to theinvention by extending the tubes serving to guide the thread aconsiderable amount into the stationary container I2, as shown in Fig.1.

The sucking efiect of the smooth insert tube 8 may be reduced orentirely avoided by a particular design of the bore. Thus, instead ofthe tube 8 shown in Fig. 1, the one shown in Fig. 3 may be employed.This substitute tube has an undulated bore. When the device is at rest,the large cross-section 25 is available for threading, Whereas theactive or sucking cross-section 26, which is effective during therotation, may be made as small as desirable. The tube according to Fig.3 forms, during the rotation, .a sort of liquid seal owing to the liquiddistribution caused by the centrifugal forces, so that the major portionof the coagulating solution is supplied through the openings "I.

The starting of the spinning device is efiected in the manner shown inFig. 4. The bayonet locking 3|, 32 is first loosened and then the toppart I of the revolving container is raised together with container I2.The solution in container I2 now flows back into the supply tank 42. Thespinning is now started with the head at rest, the quantity of solutionnecessary for the starting being supplied to the bottom part 30 of therevolving container through a syphon 40 (Fig. 4). Through the inner tube8, serving to guide the thread, a thin wire is passed, and one end ofthe thread is stuck to the wire. By means of the wire, the thread thenis drawn out through the top part of the revolving container and throughthe stationary container. Finally the syphon 40 is removed from thebottom part of the revolving container and the top part I of the same islowered together with container I2 and then coupled to the bottom part30 of the revolving container. Now the stationary and the revolvingcontainers are automatically filled with coagulating liquid returningfrom tank 42 through hose 4| and the spinning process proper may begin.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for simultaneously spinning and twisting threads fromviscous material, comprising a hollow spindle for supplying the viscousmaterial, said spindle having a multiple orifice spinning head at itsoutlet end, means for rotating said spindle, a pot-like rotary containerfor coagulating solution coaxially disposed on said spindle so as tosurround said spinning head and to rotate therewith, a stationarycontainer for supplying coagulating solution to said rotary container,said stationary container being coaxially disposed above said rotarycontainer, a sleeve connecting said stationary and said rotary containerso as to allow the formation of a continuous solution column whichrotates at its bottom with said rotary container and remains nonrotativeat its top within said stationary container, a tubular body arrangedcentrally in said sleeve, said body forming a passage for the thread andleaving between said body and said sleeve an interstice forming a supplyduct for coagulating solution, and bafiles disposed in said intersticefor preventing the solution passing through said interstice fromrevolving.

2. A device for simultaneously spinning and twisting threads fromviscous material, comprising a hollow spindle for supplying the viscousmaterial, said spindle having a multiple orifice spinning head at itsoutlet end, means for rotating said spindle, a pot-like rotary containerfor coagulating solution coaxially disposed on said spindle so as tosurround saidspinning head and to rotate therewith, said rotarycontainer having an outlet for discharging coagulating solution, astationary container for supplying coagulating solution to said rotarycontainer, said stationary container being coaxially disposed above saidrotary container, a stationary sleeve connecting the bottom of saidstationary container with the top portion of said rotary container so asto allow the formation of a continuous solution column which rotates atits bottom with said rotary container and remains non-rotative at itstop within said stationary container, a tubular body arranged withinsaid sleeve so as to form a passage for the thread, means for rotatablysecuring said body in coaxial position with respect to said sleeve,means for connecting said body with said rotary container in order toimpart a rotation to said body, and resistive means disposed in theinterstice between said body and said sleeve for impeding a rotation ofthe coagulating solution flowing from said stationary container throughsaid interstice into said rotary container.

3. A device for simultaneously spinning and twisting threads fromviscous material, comprising a hollow spindle for supplying the viscousmaterial, said spindle having a multiple orifice spinning head at itsoutlet end, means for rotating said spindle, a pot-like rotary containerfor coagulating solution coaxially disposed on said spindle so as tosurround said spinning head and to rotate therewith, said rotarycontainer having an outlet for discharging coagulating solution, a

stationary container for supplying coagulating solution to said rotarycontainer, said stationary container being coaxially disposed above saidrotary container, a stationary sleeve connecting the bottom of saidstationary container with the top portion of said rotary container so asto allow the formation of a continuous solution column which rotates atits bottom with said rotary container and remains non-rotative at itstop within said stationary container, a rotary body arranged centrallywithin said sleeve so as to form a passage for the thread, said bodyhaving an undulated bore so as to have a straight-through cross sectionof smaller size than the total cross section available forthreading-through the thread when starting the spinning operation, andresistive means disposed in the interstice between said body and saidsleeve for impeding a rotation of the coagulating solution flowing fromsaid stationary container through said interstice into said rotarycontainer.

4. A device for simultaneously spinning and twisting threads fromviscous material, comprising a hollow spindle for supplying the viscousmaterial, said spindle having a multiple orifice spinning head at itsoutlet end, means for rotating said spindle, a pot-like rotary containerfor coagulating solution coaxially disposed on said spindle so as tosurround said spinning head and to rotate therewith, a stationarycontainer for supplying coagulating solution to said rotary container,said stationary container being coaxially disposed above said rotarycontainer, a sleeve connecting said stationary and said rotary containerso as to allow the formation of a continuous solution column whichrotates at its bottom with said rotary container and remainsnon-rotative at its top within said stationary container, two concentrictubular conduits arranged in said sleeve, the outer of said conduitsforming with said sleeve an interstice for the passage of coagulatingsolution from said stationary to said rotary container and beingdesigned as a holder for said inner conduit, said inner conduit forminga passage for the thread, and resistance bodies disposed in saidinterstice for preventing a rotation of the solution flowing throughsaid interstice.

5. A device for simultaneously spinning and twisting threads fromviscous material, comprising a hollow spindle for supplying the viscousmaterial, said spindle having a multiple orifice spinning head at itsoutlet end, means for rotating said spindle, a pot-like rotary containerfor coagulating solution coaxially disposed on said spindle so as tosurround said spinning head and to rotate therewith, said rotarycontainer having an outlet for discharging coagulating solution, astationary container for supplying coagulating solution to said rotarycontainer, said stationary container being coaxially disposed above saidrotary container, a sleeve connecting the bottom of said stationarycontainer with the top portion of said rotary container so as to allowthe formation of a continuous solution column which rotates at itsbottom with said rotary container and remains non-rotative at its topwithin said stationary container, a tubular body arranged centrallywithin said sleeve to form a thread passage, said body extending closeto the solution level of said stationary container, and bafiling meansdisposed in the interstice between said body and said sleeve forpreventing from rotation the solution flowing from said stationarycontainer through said interstice into said rotary container.

6. A device for simultaneously spinning and twisting threads fromviscous material, comprising a hollow spindle for supplying the viscousmaterial, said spindle having a multiple orifice spinning head at itsoutlet end, means for rotating said spindle, a rotary container forcoagulating solution arranged coaxially with said spindle and having anoutlet for discharging said solution, said rotary container consistingof a potshaped bottom part a top part detachably connected with saidbottom part, said bottom part being mounted to said spindle so as tosurround said spinning head and to rotate therewith, a stationarycontainer for supplying coagulating solution to said rotary container,said stationary container being disposed coaxially above said rotary'container, a sleeve mounted to the bottom of said stationary containerand extending into said top part of said rotary container, said sleeveforming a communication duct allowing the for mation of a continuoussolution column which rotates at its bottom with said rotary containerand remains non-rotative at its top within said stationary container, aflange disposed at the lower end of said sleeve and designed torotatably connect said stationary container with said top part of saidrotary container in order to allow raising said stationary container andsaid top part as a unit from said bottom part, a tubular body arrangedin said sleeve to form a thread passage, and baffling means disposed inthe interstice between said body and said sleeve for preventing fromrotation the solution flowing from said stationary container throughsaid interstice into said rotary container, said body and said bafilingmeans forming part of said unit.

'7. With a device for spinning viscous material from a multiple orificespinning head into a continuous column of liquid rotating at its bottomand non-rotating at its top, in combination, a lower rotary containerhaving a discharge outlet and containing said spinning head, an upperstationary supply container, a communication duct arranged between saidupperand lower containers in the rotation axis of said lower container,said duct forming a passage for the thread and for said liquid, a secondcommunication duct designed for additionally supplying liquid to saidrotary container, said second duct surrounding said first duct so as toform an interstice having a larger cross section than the opening ofsaid first duct in order to supply during the spinning operation themajor part of the liquid to said rotary container, and means in saidinterstice to prevent a rotation of the liquid supplied through saidinterstice.

KARL BERND'IZ,

